Enrollment $450 - $600 sliding scale, includes 24 hours of participation, retreat,
booklet of practices and other practice toolsAsk about payment plan or scholarshipsSign up

Enjoy these researched benefits of Mindful Self-Compassion:

• Practice self-compassion in your daily life

• Improve emotional well-being

• Motivate yourself with encouragement, not criticism
• Gain a new perspective on stressful situations

• Transform difficult relationships, both old and new

• Manage caregiver fatigue
• Become your own best teacher

• Understand the theory and research behind mindful self-compassion

Program activities include self-compassion meditations, brief talks, experiential exercises, group discussion, and home practices, all in a supportive environment.

Mindful Self-Compassion

Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is a program developed by Kristin Neff, the pioneering researcher in the field of self-compassion (www.Self-Compassion.org)
and the author of Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave
Insecurity Behind; and Christopher Germer, a clinical psychologist who
specializes in mindfulness and compassion-based psychotherapy (www.MindfulSelfCompassion.org) and the author of many books including A Mindful Path to Self-Compassion.

In this program, you will learn:

Self compassion as a skill that can help you to meet life's difficulties with more wisdom and kindness.

How to offer yourself the compassion you would naturally extend to a dear friend or stranger.

A courageous attitude of mind that will give you emotional
stability and resilience to be more fully present with uncertainty so
that you can recover from life's difficulties and move on with more ease
and confidence.

Research:

Research has shown that self-compassion greatly enhances emotional
well-being. It boosts happiness, reduces anxiety and depression, and can
even help you stick to your diet and exercise routine. All that’s
required is shift in the direction of your attention—recognizing that as
a human being, you, too, are a worthy recipient of compassion.

CE Credits are available for professionals. The fee for CE
credits is $60 and payable by check or money order to the teacher,
Natalie Bell, at the first class.

Info for CEs:

Psychologists: Continuing Education Credit for this
program is provided by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. The UC San
Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological
Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The UC
San Diego Center for Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this
program and its content. This course offers 24.0 hours of credit.

California licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs:
Continuing Education Credit for this program is provided by UC San Diego
Center for Mindfulness. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is
approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing
education for psychologists. 24.0 contact hours may be applied to your
license renewal through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. For
those licensed outside California, please check with your local
licensing board to determine if APA accreditation meets their
requirements.

Nurses: UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is
approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number
CEP16351, for 28.75 contact hours.

From the New York Times

"The research suggests that giving ourselves a break and accepting
our imperfections may be the first step toward better health. People who
score high on tests of self-compassion have less depression and
anxiety, and tend to be happier and more optimistic. Preliminary data
suggest that self-compassion can even influence how much we eat and may
help some people lose weight.

This idea does seem at odds with the advice dispensed by many doctors
and self-help books, which suggest that willpower and self-discipline
are the keys to better health. But Kristin Neff, a pioneer in the field,
says self-compassion is not to be confused with self-indulgence or
lower standards.

"I found in my research that the biggest reason people aren’t more
self-compassionate is that they are afraid they’ll become
self-indulgent,” said Dr. Neff, an associate professor of human
development at the University of Texas at Austin. “They believe
self-criticism is what keeps them in line. Most people have gotten it
wrong because our culture says being hard on yourself is the way to be."

Imagine your reaction to a child struggling in school or eating too
much junk food. Many parents would offer support, like tutoring or
making an effort to find healthful foods the child will enjoy. But when
adults find themselves in a similar situation — struggling at work, or
overeating and gaining weight — many fall into a cycle of self-criticism
and negativity. That leaves them feeling even less motivated to change.

"Self-compassion is really conducive to motivation,” Dr. Neff said.
“The reason you don’t let your children eat five big tubs of ice cream
is because you care about them. With self-compassion, if you care about
yourself, you do what’s healthy for you rather than what’s harmful to
you."

8-Week Course in Mindful Self Compassion

The 8-week format - consists of eight weekly, 2 1/2 -
hour sessions in a classroom/discussion group format, plus a 4-hour
retreat. This class is often most easily integrated into our lives and
offers an extended opportunity to deepen and solidify our practice.